2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #1 discussion

We only knew the killer by his drug dealer name (The Professor) and that used by his sister Nell (Remy). His true name wasn't revealed until the end of the story but it wasn't someone we'd been introduced to earlier. Why did the author make this a mystery?

Perhaps to give us a sense of the real world of mystery that law enforcement must approach. Sometimes, it's a nice device for the reader to know the identity, but other times I know I'm in the dark for a good reason.

Agree, Charlene. We had all kinds of clues to him and I was pretty sure we hadn't met him before. To have reveled his true identity would have taken away his "Air of Mystery."

We could have at least been given his real name since we wouldn't have known anything about him. Keeping that a secret didn't make sense here. Knowing the extent of his community involvement was the bigger reveal.

Mmmm. maybe because it wasn't a previously introduced character the reader wouldn't have any connection with him. By keeping him a mystery it adds to the drama for the reader trying to guess Whodunnit. Maybe a bit disappointing then for the baddie to be someone out of left field.

I know for me keeping his identity secret hyped my anxiety and need to know - was he going to turn out to be someone known to this group? A friend or co-worker who betrays their trust? I felt it added to the overall suspense of the story.